Conservation in Scotland

This article gives an overview of the structure of environmental and cultural conservation in Scotland, a constituent country of the United Kingdom.

Upon the introduction of devolved government the environment and built heritage were not listed as reserved issues, and so for the most part conservation is the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Government, and the public bodies that report to them. Although originally reserved, responsibility for all planning and nature conservation matters at sea up to 200 miles from the Scottish coast was transferred to the Scottish Government in 2008.^[1] Some matters related to conservation, such as international treaties and border controls on prohibited species, remain the responsibility of the UK Government.

Much environment legislation in Scotland is based on the adoption into Scots law of European Union directives, such as the Habitats Directive. As such there may be changes to the structure and nature of conservation activities in Scotland following the UK's departure from the European Union.

Conservation matters are dealt with across a number of directorates of the Scottish Government:

• Environmental protection, forestry and biodiversity are the responsibility of the Environment and Forestry Directorate.^[2]
• The Marine Scotland Directorate is responsible for the integrated management of Scotland's seas.^[3]
• The Energy and Climate Change Directorate covers measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.^[4]
• Cultural Heritage is the responsibility of the Culture, Tourism and Major Events Directorate.^[5]

Three Cabinet Secretaries hold portfolios with responsibility for conservation issues:

• The Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport has ministerial responsibility for many conservation issues, including cross-government co-ordination of Net Zero policy, climate crisis and environmental protection, biodiversity, sustainable development, renewable energy, energy and energy consents, flood prevention and coastal erosion, and water quality.^[6]
• The portfolio of the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands includes ministerial responsibility for agriculture and crofting, fisheries and aquaculture, and forestry.^[7]
• The portfolio of the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture includes ministerial responsibility for architecture and built heritage.^[8]

The following are public bodies of the Scottish Government, with notes on their areas of responsibility.

• Forestry and Land Scotland is responsible for management of the national forest estate.^[9][10]
• Scottish Forestry is responsible for forestry regulation and support.^[9][10]

• Cairngorms National Park Authority
• Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for cultural and built heritage.^[11]
• Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority
• NatureScot is responsible for landscape protection and wildlife conservation.^[12]
• The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh undertakes scientific study into plants and their conservation.^[13]
• Scottish Environment Protection Agency is responsible for waterways, pollution and waste management.^[14]

^[15]

• Crown Estate Scotland is responsible for managing a range of rural, coastal and marine assets that are held 'in right of the Crown'.^[16]
• Scottish Canals manages Scotland's inland waterways.^[17]

^[18]

Within the UK Government, environmental protection is the responsibility of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Two UK-wide executive agencies with responsibility for conservation matters include Scotland within their remit:

• The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) co-ordinates the work of the UK's nature conservation bodies (SNH being the Scottish body).^[19]
• The Forestry Commission co-ordinates international forestry policy support and certain plant health functions in respect of trees and forestry.^[9]

Many non-governmental organisations are active in conservation issues in Scotland. The following list provides some examples.

• National parks — National parks of Scotland
• National nature reserves
• National scenic areas
• Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) — Lists of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Scotland
• Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas (MPA)

• Scheduled monuments
• Listed buildings — Listed buildings in Scotland
• Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland
• Inventory of Historic Battlefields in Scotland
• Historic Marine Protected Areas

• World Heritage Sites — List of World Heritage Sites in Scotland
• Ramsar sites — List of Ramsar sites in Scotland
• Natura 2000
  • Special Areas of Conservation — List of Special Areas of Conservation in Scotland
  • Special Protection Areas —List of Special Protection Areas in Scotland

• Local nature reserves
• Conservation areas
• Regional parks

• Forest parks of Scotland

• Abbeys and priories in Scotland
• Castles in Scotland
• Caledonian Forest
• Fauna of Scotland
• Flora of Scotland
• Gardens in Scotland
• Historic houses in Scotland
• Lighthouses in Scotland
• National Trust for Scotland
• Scotland's Great Trails - long-distance trails

• Biodiversity Action Plan
• List of Conservation topics
• Article 4 direction
• United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP)
• Conservation in the United Kingdom